What’s next for Rangers after Scott Morrow recalled from AHL Hartford
For the second time in less than a week, the banged-up New York Rangers dipped into the minor leagues to recall a defenseman. They recalled rookie Scott Morrow from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Wednesday, three days after veteran Connor Mackey was called up.
To make room under the salary cap, the Rangers moved center Vincent Trocheck to LTIR. The 32-year-old is week to week with an upper-body injury sustained in the second game of the season, a 4-0 win in Buffalo against the Sabres. This means Trocheck must miss 10 games or 24 days, with the move retroactive to last Thursday. He’s already missed three games, including consecutive shutout losses at home to the Washington Capitals and Edmonton Oilers.
Morrow was recalled to ensure that the Rangers have seven healthy defensemen for their next game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. Will Borgen sustained a lower-body injury in New York’s 2-0 loss to the Oilers on Tuesday and didn’t practice Wednesday. Coach Mike Sullivan said Borgen is still being evaluated.
Borgen finished the game Tuesday and logged 20:32 TOI, contributing a pair of hits and one blocked shot.
Braden Schneider moved up from the third pair to skate in Borgen’s place to the right side of Matthew Robertson on the second pair at practice. Morrow was part of a rotation with Urho Vaakanainen and Mackey on the third pair — and the only right-hand shot among them.
The 22-year-old made his Hartford debut and was held pointless with three shots on goal in a 2-1 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last weekend. He had a solid training camp and preseason with the Rangers, but was among the final cuts.
Morrow has 16 games of NHL experience, all with the Carolina Hurricanes, who dealt him to the Rangers this summer as part of the K’Andre Miller sign-and-trade agreement. Morrow had six points (one goal, five assists) with the Hurricanes last season, and 39 points (12 goals, 26 assists) in 52 games with AHL Chicago.
Mackey was recalled over the weekend when veteran defenseman Carson Soucy landed on IR with an upper-body issue. The Rangers scratched Mackey the past two games.
Rangers options after recalling Scott Morrow from AHL
1. Scott Morrow could make Rangers debut if Will Borgen out with injury
The most likely scenario if Borgen is out for (at least) the game Thursday up in Toronto against the Maple Leafs is that Morrow draws into the lineup on the right side of the third pair, with Schneider moving up to the second pair and remaining on the right side in Borgen’s place next to Robertson (as was the case at practice).
The simplest play by Sullivan then is to keep Vaakanainen on the left side of the third pair. It’s highly doubtful the Rangers want three of their six defensemen to be Robertson, Morrow and Mackey against Auston Matthews and Co. Vaakanainen was benched for most of the third period Tuesday, but he started the season as a regular d-man and that should continue Thursday.
The Rangers could insert Mackey into the lineup if Sullivan opts not to put Morrow in. In that case, either Mackey or Vaakanainen would play his off (right) side.
2. Scott Morrow could play against Maple Leafs even if Will Borgen is healthy
However, it can’t be overlooked that Sullivan did indeed bench Vaakanainen against the Oilers. The 26-year-old took just two shifts in the third period and totaled a season-low 12:52 TOI, fewest among Rangers defensemen. Sullivan said it was because of “matchups” when the Oilers broke up Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl during the course of the game.. But it already appeared he trusts Robertson more since it’s the rookie who stepped in to take Soucy’s spot on the left side of the second pair. Then it was Vaakanainen, not the less-experienced Robertson, who was odd man out in the defensive rotation against Edmonton.
So, it’s possible that Borgen and Morrow each play Thursday while Vaakanainen is a healthy scratch. That would mean Schneider bumps up to the second pair and shifts to his off (left) side. Sullivan did use Schneider in that role some in the Oilers game and Sunday against the Capitals as well.
It’s less likely this happens, especially since it’d mean Robertson partners with Morrow on an all-rookie third pair. But it can’t be discounted considering the recent developments with Vaakanainen.
Sullivan said after practice that “it depends on the injuries” if Morrow plays or not. So, there’s that, too.
3. Power play boost
If Morrow does draw in to the lineup in Toronto, will he receive time on the power play? Morrow is a highly-skilled offensive defenseman, who capably quarterbacked the second unit for much of the preseason. But that’s been Schneider’s role since the regular season started, and he appears to be growing with the opportunity.
Though the Rangers are just 2-for-14 on the power play this season, there were no personnel changes to either unit at practice. That likely means Schneider stays put on PP2, whether Morrow is in the lineup or not. But if the rookie does dress Thursday and the power play needs an in-game jolt, Morrow is definitely an excellent option to jump in at any point.
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